Glare assembly for computerized eye test display

ABSTRACT

A monitor is used to display a visual acuity test operated by software from an associated computer. A patient is spaced a predetermined distance from the monitor during the testing procedure, and individual, multiple LED housings are equally spaced about a center point of the monitor to direct light toward the patient during at least a portion of the test procedure. The light emanating from the individual housings is a diffuse, unfocused light to simulate glare, and the intensity of the light may be selectively altered. Conducting acuity testing under glare conditions determines if there is any reduction or fall off in the patient&#39;s acuity vision under such circumstances and provides an indication of whether the patient may require cataract surgery or has another ocular problem.

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser.No. 61/254,410, filed 23 Oct. 2010, the disclosure of which is expresslyincorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to an eye test assembly, and more particularlyto an eye test assembly that displays an eye chart on a computer monitorand the eye test is run by software. Further, the present disclosurerelates to a glare assembly for use with such a display or monitor thatis useful in diagnosing cataracts or other ocular problems or issuesassociated with a patient. Under normal testing conditions, a patientmay demonstrate acceptable scores, for example even exhibiting 20/20vision in an examination room under normal exam room conditions.Unfortunately, in the light of day, and in real world conditions, suchas driving at night with on-coming headlights directed at the driver, orin bright sunlight, the patient's vision may be quite different due tobright light passing through the lens of the eye.

There are a couple of different products presently on the market thattest for the impact of glare. For example, a Brightness Acuity Tester(BAT), as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,483. The disclosureof that patent is hereby incorporated by reference. An upright handlepositions an open sided housing having an aperture or opening throughthe housing adjacent a patient's eye. A source of illumination isdisposed in the housing and is varied between high, medium, and lowsettings. In this manner, a patient's vision is measured in a standardmanner, and with one eye occluded, the brightness acuity tester is heldadjacent the patient's eye under examination, the source of illuminationturned on, and visual acuity of that eye is then measured with thepatient looking through the glare light. In other words, glare light ispurposefully introduced into the visual path of the patient. Thecomparison between these acuity testing procedures under non-glare andglare conditions will then determine whether the patient has anypronounced or recognizable change in acuity vision. This may be anindication of whether cataracts or other ocular problems exist.

Another type of commercially available device is one sold by VectorVision. An illuminated eye chart box, or light box, for example the typeas shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,486, is modified toinclude first and second halogen lights secured on either side of thelight box. The halogen lights are described as simulating an on-comingcar with headlamps illuminated at a preselected distance. The halogenlights are either turned on or off. A particular line or row ofcharacters on the light box is illuminated. An internal light sourcegenerates the desired light intensity on a particular row of the eyechart, and employs a sensor or photocell to monitor the light intensityin the ambient environment adjacent the eye chart. In this manner, theamount of light generated by the light source can be altered.

Although commercially successful, improvements are desired, particularlywhen used with a computer software visual acuity testing arrangement.

SUMMARY

A computer vision testing system includes a monitor for displaying atest procedure. Individual, multiple light sources equi-spaced about acenter point of the monitor and directed toward an associated patient toconduct the test procedure under glare light conditions.

A method of testing visual acuity of a patient includes locating amonitor a predetermined distance from an associated patient, running avisual acuity test, displaying the test on the monitor, and directinglight from individual light sources equi-spaced from a center point ofthe monitor toward the associated patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a computer monitor used as a displayfor conducting visual acuity testing.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the LED light sources.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of one of the LED assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning first to FIG. 1, there is a shown a monitor 100 used to displaya visual acuity test operated by software from an associated computer(not shown), for example, of the type as shown and described in U.S.Published Application No. 20040036840A1. The illustrated monitor isrectangular, for example having a 16×9 rectangular aspect ratio.Although the illustrated monitor is of a liquid crystal display (LCD)type, it is also contemplated that a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitorcould be employed without departing from the scope and intent of thepresent disclosure. Display face 102 is controlled by the visual acuitytesting software. The testing usually occurs in a dark room in order toprovide greater control over the luminance associated with the monitorand thus a more standardized testing. A patient is spaced apredetermined distance from the monitor during the testing procedure,and the size of the characters on the screen are controlled andcalibrated. Preferably, multiple LEDs 110 are displayed around themonitor. Each LED 110 is of substantially identical structure as shownin FIGS. 2 and 3. For example, housing 112 includes an opening 114 alongone surface of the generally cubical-shaped housing, although otherhousing conformations may be adopted without departing from the scopeand intent of the present disclosure. The hollow housing receives afraen lens and holder 116 that serves to direct light emitted from theLED through an opening 114 in the housing. For example, an innerreflective surface 116R reflects and directs light outward through thehousing opening and toward the patient (not shown) who is typicallyseated a predetermined distance from the monitor. An LED light source118 is mounted at one end of the holder 116 in order to direct lighttherethrough and ultimately through the opening 114 of the housing. Aheat sink 120 is advantageously located on a rear surface of the lightsource in order to convey heat away from the elevated temperaturesassociated with operation of the LED. One or more fasteners, such asthreaded screws 122 extend through the heat sink and into the LEDhousing in order to contain the light source in operative engagementwith the lens and holder within the LED housing.

Each housing assembly 110 is then mounted to the perimeter of themonitor 100. Each LED housing disposed on a side portion of the monitor,i.e., on the right-hand and left-hand sides of the monitor arepreferably disposed closely adjacent the perimeter of the monitor. Aswill be appreciated, in this manner, and with the display face centeredwithin the perimeter of the monitor, the housing assemblies 110 areequi-spaced from a left-to-right center portion of the display face, andpreferably at equal distances from the center. For ease of reference,these housing assemblies are referred to as 110L and 110R. Further,additional LED housing assemblies 110T, 110B are provided on extensions130 that space the top and bottom LED housing assemblies from the upperand lower perimeters, respectively, of the monitor. Each of the housingassemblies is centered left-to-right, and preferably equi-spacedtop-to-bottom away from a central point in a monitor, i.e., by the samedistance as each of the LED housing assemblies 110L, 110R. In thismanner, each LED housing is equally spaced from the center point of themonitor.

Using four perimeter spaced light sources is also preferred to simulatea circle of light. In some instances, a pair of light sources (eitherpositioned on either side or spaced top to bottom) may be insufficient.Further, the light emanating from the individual housings is a diffuselight, i.e., not focused light. Ultimately, a diffuse light source thatis provided in a relatively even manner from the periphery of the screento simulate glare is desirable for glare testing. Conducting acuitytesting under glare conditions to determine if there is any reduction orfall off in the patient's acuity vision under such circumstancesprovides an indication, for example, of whether the patient may requirecataract surgery or has another ocular problem.

Each LED housing assembly connects to the computer assembly, preferablythrough a USB port or the like, and in the presently preferredarrangement communicates with the processor through a serial-typeprotocol. The processor controls not only an on/off condition of theLEDs, but also allows the brightness of each to be adjusted between oneof approximately two-hundred ten (210) levels of brightness. Theintensity of the three watt LEDs supplied by a twenty four (24) voltpower supply will vary depending on the distance from the patient. Sincethe distance of the patient from the monitor can be inputted to thesoftware, the software can then compute a desired intensity level ofbrightness based on this measurement distance. Thus, although there aregenerally three general levels (high, medium and low which are dependenton the measurement distance of the patient from the light source), thelevels of glare light intensity can be further manipulated with theteachings of the present disclosure if so desired. The patient can betested in a variety of ambient light conditions because the glare lightscan be adjusted.

Preferably, each of the LED housing assemblies that serve to provideglare light provides a diffuse light source that faces the patient.Particularly, with two, and preferably four or more LED housingassemblies, a more uniform diffused glare light is directed toward thepatient while the visual acuity testing is undertaken under the glarelight condition.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferredembodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others uponreading and understanding this specification. It is intended to includeall such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within thescope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A computer vision testing system comprising: a monitor for displayinga test procedure; and individual, multiple light sources equi-spacedabout a center point of the monitor and directed toward an associatedpatient to conduct the test procedure under glare light conditions. 2.The system of claim 1 wherein first and second light sources aredisposed above and below the monitor, respectively.
 3. The system ofclaim 2 wherein third and fourth light sources are located along firstand second sides of the monitor, respectively.
 4. The system of claim 1wherein the intensity of the light sources may be selectively altered.5. The system of claim 4 wherein the desired intensity of the lightsources is based on a dimension that an associated patient is spacedfrom the monitor.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the light sourceseach emit diffuse, unfocused light.
 7. The system of claim 1 whereineach of the light sources is identical to the other light sources. 8.The system of claim 1 wherein each of the light sources is a lightemitting diode (LED).
 9. A method of testing visual acuity of a patientcomprising: locating a monitor a predetermined distance from anassociated patient; running a visual acuity test; displaying the test onthe monitor; and directing light from individual light sourcesequi-spaced from a center point of the monitor toward the associatedpatient.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising locating first andsecond light sources above and below the monitor, respectively.
 11. Themethod of claim 10 further comprising locating third and fourth lightsources are located along first and second sides of the monitor,respectively.
 12. The method of claim 9 further comprising selectivelyaltering an intensity of the light sources.
 13. The method of claim 9further comprising emitting a diffuse, unfocused from the light sources.14. The method of claim 13 further comprising selectively altering anintensity of the light sources.